Laser induced chemiluminescence of BCl3/H2S mixtures

Visible chemiluminescence has been observed from mixtures of BCl₃ and H₂S when subjected to intense 10.6 μm radiation from a CO₂ laser. The spectrum of the emission is found to contain a molecular band structure superimposed on an underlying continuum. The visible fluorescence displays a strong dependence on the incident CO₂ laser power and a temporal component that is faster than gas collision times. The implications of this with regard to laser isotope separation are discussed.